TITLE: Pacers Enter Lottery Determined to Keep Pick, Confident in Zubac Trade
SLUG: pacers-enter-lottery-determined-to-keep-pick-confident-in-zubac-trade
CONTENT:
The Indiana Pacers will learn their draft fate on Sunday when the NBA conducts its annual draft lottery. Sitting in the No. 2 slot, the franchise owns a 14% chance of landing the top overall selection and a 52.1% probability of remaining inside the top four.
If the ping-pong balls drop them to No. 5 or lower, the first-round pick will transfer to the Los Angeles Clippers under February’s Ivica Zubac trade. General manager Chad Buchanan said the organization was fully aware of that risk when it acquired the veteran center but has no regrets.
“When we made the trade, obviously we knew there was risk involved,” Buchanan told 93.5/107.5 FM in comments relayed by the Indianapolis Star. “We felt both scenarios provided opportunities to help our team next year. Shame on us if we don’t try to put this team in position to have another couple runs at it.”
The Pacers have never selected first overall and last held the No. 2 pick in 1988, drafting Rik Smits. Zubac, viewed internally as the club’s long-term solution at center, appeared in only five games for Indiana after the trade because of an ankle injury followed by a fractured rib. He had averaged a double-double with the Clippers prior to the move.
Buchanan said losing the pick would be disappointing but not crippling. “Should we lose the pick, there are other opportunities to improve our team through free agency and trades,” he noted, pointing to a desire for additional bench scoring, particularly on the wing.
Indiana projects to carry just under $200 million in salary commitments this offseason, according to Forbes. Retaining a top-four selection would increase that figure because of the rookie salary slot. Head coach Rick Carlisle added that, absent a high pick, the Pacers could redirect that salary space toward free agents or other transactions.
Source: Hoops Rumors
